SpaceX Starship Flight 6: Launch Date and Objectives

SpaceX is gearing up for the Starship Flight 6 and use the success of Flight 5 to improve the software and hardware to the launch date. Starship Flight 6 will be an important test flight for this mega-rocket and advance this vehicle.

However, the path to this new test goes through flight 5 and we’ve to know something to speculate new objectives.

Flight 6 Objectives

During Flight 5, SpaceX marked successful liftoff with 33 first-stage Raptor engines. After achieving Max Q, the company performed hot-staging and maneuvered the booster back to the launch site. At the same time, the second stage fired its six Raptor engines and started the coasting phase.

The primary object of the mission was to land the first stage between the tower’s chopsticks. Eventually, the booster maintained its trajectory and landed according to the plan.

On the other hand, the Starship survived the high-heat region with upgraded heat shield tiles. It also landed on the targeted splash zone in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX Flight 6 will broadly focus on the second stage and improve its stability as it makes a controlled landing in the Ocean. However, it will continue to polish the booster catch with this flight.

The Flight 6 spacecraft is using upgraded tiles and, an improved thermal system, which performed quite well after Flight 5’s atmospheric reentry. The next flight will strengthen the ship’s ability to endure heat and remain functional during descent.

Similar to previous test flights, flight 6 will be a crucial test to provide data and understanding to land the spacecraft with Flight 7 and subsequent flights in 2025.

To prepare for this mission, SpaceX has already conducted static fire on the first and second stages.

SpaceX Starship 6 Static Fire (Source – SpaceX)

Starship Flight 6 Launch Date

Each of the past four missions has some anomaly whether it’s the booster, spacecraft, engines, tiles, or even new changes in the license applications. These elements have caused months of delay in new flight tests.

However, the tests provided much-needed data and insights to improve the rocket design. With Flight 5, SpaceX completed all milestones and the mission was conducted within the scope of the launch license filed with the FAA. Therefore, the FAA has not invested in this flight test, which means Starship 6 is pre-licensed.

SpaceX Starship Flight 6 will launch on November 18 and the first launch window will open at 4:00 pm for 30 minutes. The schedule could change dynamically. This new time is adjusted to evening to observe the first stage’s reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.